1.1 Benefits of uranium mining
The benefits of uranium mining are largely economic, with social and environmental gains being other reasons to advocate and embrace uranium mining at Kakadu Park.
1.1.1 Economic benefits
One of the major economic benefits of uranium mining in Kakadu would be the high demand for international exports. With Australia owning 24% of the world’s uranium reserves, the sale of uranium oxide to global prospectors, primarily to nuclear power stations in Asia, Europe and North America, has been seen to have immense potential in enhancing Australia’s financial sector. As seen in Figure 2, in the Australian Government’s Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism June 2014 bi-annual report, the statement “In 2010-11
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According to the annual welfare report of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in 2012, ‘Twelve percent of the Jabiru region population lives in housing that is classified as “improvised accommodation”. This comprises of tents, traditional shelters and sheds’ (Australian Bureau of Statistics Statsite, 2012) which exhibits the poor living conditions that Indigenous people of Jabiru are subjected to due to the lack of monetary backing resultant of low employment rates. Thus, the appeal of employment opportunities provision of a new uranium mine may be perceived by Aboriginals as a pathway to improve their people with low concern as to the magnitude of environmental and social risks that may arise from the occupation. Hence, the operation of uranium mines in Kakadu may also prove to be beneficial in improving the livelihood of people living in the region.
1.1.3 Environmental benefits
Amongst the numerous benefits of uranium mining, production of uranium from mining has a significant impact on sustainable global energy production. As seen in the table (Figure 3) extracted from the World Nuclear Association’s report on the benefits of using uranium as a primary source of obtaining electricity, Uranium generates the highest capacity of energy per kilogram when combusted, proving to be the most exothermic. Hence, being the most viable supply of energy in comparison to other fossil fuels, uranium mining has the potential to becoming a preeminent source of electricity in future.
Firewood (dry) 16 MJ/kg
Brown coal (lignite) 10 MJ/kg
Black coal (low quality) 13-23
Indigenous Australian’s health has been a focal point and topic of interest for many members of the government and policy markers. The reasoning for why this topic has been of popular interest for the government and policy makers is due to the startling and atrocious lack of health that Indigenous Australian’s suffer. Indigenous Australian’s are disadvantaged in the Australian healthcare system and have the poorest health out of all Australians. “Between 2004 and 2008, 66% of Indigenous deaths occurred before the age of 65 compared with 20% of non-Indigenous deaths.” (Red Dust, p.1) Indigenous Australian’s experience this major disadvantage and neglect in the Australian society due to the poor health care system and policies that haven’t been able to solve the issue. This essay will explore the significant and negative impact on the Indigenous communities and how policy decisions have impacted and continue to impact the Indigenous communities. This essay will also outline why there have been significant policy shifts over time, the current issues in delivering services to Indigenous Australian’s and why these issues have emerged.
On top of it being cleaner it is cheaper the mining of uranium is cheaper than the mining of coal
Aboriginal children under 12 were working illegally, with inadequate accommodation and rations, sexual abuse of Aboriginal women, no sanitation or rubbish removal facilities, and limitation to safe drinking water. -(1)- . It was not just the land right issues that triggered this campaign, but also the lack of personal rights and freedom of the Aboriginals that influenced this action.
In terms of the supporting by Tim, Denise Boyd (2006), who is a campaign director at Australian Conservation Foundation, refutes that his argument will not deliver the cut we need in greenhouse pollution to avoid urgent climate change; in addition, it will cause only big risk compared with leading tiny reward. However, in 2007, Tim rejected a former opinion of nuclear power, reversing his position that nuclear energy could play a vital role in the environment because Australia has a fabulous renewable energy like solar and wind (Frew 2007). Tim still poses a question why Australia sells not uranium, but coal to other countries (Sara 2009). He supports that since Australia has the largest amount of uranium reserves of the world, we have to supply its to countries that do not have access to renewable energy source like Australia does. Professor Robert Manne says that Tim has also aggravated many environmentalists by advocating the use of nuclear energy for some countries (La Torbe University 2015). Currently,
The actions of the State and Federal Government(s) have being questionable over the centuries since the ‘colonization’ of Australia, but as Australia becomes more of a multicultural and multi-racial society Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people acceptance is rising. The disadvantages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people face is decreasing slowly by the government as introduce legislation and form commissions. There will always be problems for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in relation to housing, but the Australia is heading in the right direction to correct this problem and provide a much better future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the whole of Australia.
However, Canada is working towards incremental equality when regarding this concept, which in turn, impacts reconciliation. The most universal outcomes of the physical environments of reserves are to do with substantial housing shortages and poor quality of existing homes. With the lack of affordable housing off reserves, there is overcrowding in First Nation communities, as well as homelessness for Aboriginals living in urban areas, (Reading & Wien, 2009, p.8). Homes that exist on reserves lack appropriate ventilation, which results in mold, which in turn can lead to severe asthma as well as allergies. Families on reserves do not have access to a fresh supermarket that carries nutritious foods because they live in a remote community. With this being said, health conditions may develop in Aboriginal peoples because of the lack of healthy, nutritious food. Canada is working towards equality within the physical environments as William F. Morneau (2016) describes, “Budget 2016 proposes to invest $8.4 billion over five years, beginning in 2016-17, to improve the socio-economic conditions of Indigenous peoples and their communities and bring about transformational change,” (“A Better Future for Indigenous Peoples,” 2016). All of these aspects play a key role in reaching reconciliation throughout
Poor living conditions are a major health determinant throughout the indigenous population. Most Indigenous Australians are known to live in rural parts of Australia which are commonly not close to major cities and services. People living in these areas generally have poorer health than others living in the cities and other parts of Australia. These individuals do not have as much access to health services and good quality housing. In 2006 roughly 14% of indigenous households in Australia were overcrowded unlike 5% of other households (AIHW, 2009a). Overcrowded and poor quality houses are commonly associated with poor physical and mental health between the people living in them. The indigenous are n...
Material and non-material poverty are vital factors in understanding the extent that Indigenous Australians face poverty. Material poverty refers to the deprivation of basic human needs (Taylor, 1993). Whereas, non-material poverty consists of components of deprivation not directly caused by lack of income, but include factors such as lack of family support (Taylor, 1993). In an article by Choo (1990) it emphasises that Indigenous communities suffer immensely from non-material factors of poverty, including the loss of children through their removal, and the loss of dignity and self-respect through oppression over the years. It was also stated that material poverty was also substantial in communities this includes both income poverty and non- income indicators of poverty such as housing and health. It is important to have an understanding of the full extent of the issue to fully comprehend the discussion.
...nce World War II to the present day, the technology of nuclear power has increased significantly in terms of energy output and safety. The energy efficiency of nuclear power is far superior to its counterpart fossil fuel and renewable energy. Compared to fossil fuels, tiny amounts of fuel used by nuclear reactors is equivalent to a large sum of coal. This is a no brainer. Why mine a ton of coal when a little uranium can be used to gain the same amount of energy? Not only is it efficient, it’s safe to use. Used fuel is packed away in storage safely, so there isn’t any chance of radiation leaking out. In the present day, nuclear power incidents haven’t been occurring lately. Advancements in technology and equipment used have made nuclear energy a very reliable and safe source of energy. With today’s energy needs, nuclear power has the ability to keep up in the race.
Nuclear power is a growing source of energy to most of the world for many benefits. People doubt the significant of nuclear power because of one accident. Due to this accident, the world has only seen the flaws in nuclear power and not the many benefits it has to offer. Nuclear power would benefit worldwide if people would let go of the past and look towards the future. Nuclear power is a better alternative energy because of its economic and environmental benefits.
supplied by the uranium in sea water for 7 million years(Energy 25). This is a
INTRODUCTION:BHP Billiton is one of the top and leading companies who mainly deal in global resources. It is one of the major producer of main commodities like iron-ore, oil, gas (both conventional & unconventional), copper, energy coal, aluminium, silver and nickel. Developing values for the shareholders for long-term is their purpose which can be achieved by developing, creating new innovative methods of methods of marketing of natural resources.It has above 100 operations running in 25 nations across the world shows its global presence and it has headquarters in Melbourne, Australia (Thompson & Macklin, 2010).
Coal mining can benefit humans as well as it supports the economy in many ways. Coal mining provides a lot of jobs for local communities. It provides over 7 million jobs worldwide.
As one of the greatest alternatives to fossil fuels, an important advantage of nuclear energy is the significantly lower emission rate of CO2 in comparison to plants which use coal and natural gas.2 Nuclear power is not reliant on fossil fuels and therefore producing energy by this method reduces pollution and the contribution to climate change. However, whilst the actual process of generating energy releases few emissions, uranium must be mined and purified and in the past this has not always been an environmentally clean process.2 Ultimately, uranium will one day run out, but nuclear reactors are versatile and may also run on Thorium. Despite being finite, this would allow nuclear power stations to function for a longer period of time.
The indirect impact of the mining industry has been huge in terms of funding for things like skill development through education and training, there is also provision made for social services in the mines (e.g. health care for the employees of the mines and their families, housing, school etc.) and the contribution the national economy.